What Is the Difference Between Microwave & Satellite Communications?

Written by johan hjelm

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Most communications satellites use communication in the microwave range. (Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

Both satellite and ground-based transmissions can use microwaves, which formally are defined as electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 0.3 to 0.001 meters, with a frequency between 100 megahertz and 30 gigahertz. This means the waves fall in the spectrum normally used for radar. But both terrestrial and satellite-based microwave transmissions conform to the same physical conditions.

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Satellite-Based Transmissions

The World Administrative Radio Congress, WARC, which is the body in the International Telecommunications Union who regulates the use of radio spectrum, has set off two frequency bands for satellite communications. The C-band uses frequencies between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, and from 5.9 to 6.4 GHz. The Ku-band satellites use frequencies between 11 and 12 GHz. Both types of communications require ground-based receivers to have a parabolic antenna to receive the signal. The antenna also has to be directed toward the satellite so that it focuses the parabola on the satellite transmission.

Terrestrial Microwave Transmission

Microwave transmission in the atmosphere can only take place when there is a direct line of sight between the sender's and receiver's antenna. This is why microwave transmission towers are speckled with antennas pointing in many directions -- they actually point at different microwave transmission towers. The absorption of microwaves in the atmosphere also means that there is very little interference between different microwave towers.

Advantages of Microwave Transmissions

Radio, including microwaves, is a form of energy transmission. Energy transmission at frequencies and wavelengths that are defined as microwaves tend to be absorbed by water molecules. This is why a microwave oven works. For microwave transmission, the water molecules in the atmosphere absorb the transmitted energy.

The effect required for transmission is comparatively low for the amount of data transmitted because of the short distances afforded by the line-of-sight requirement. This is also true for satellites. A satellite can transmit at a relatively low effect, since there is nothing between it and the antenna.

Satellite and Terrestrial Microwave Comparison

Satellite communications only work when there is a line of sight from the communications satellite. So does terrestrial microwave communications. Both require parabolic antennas.

This is because apart from the limited frequency bands used by satellite communications, terrestrial and satellite microwave communications are actually using the same technology, and the only difference is the distance between sender and receiver.